Control mechanism



March 1954 P. l. SCHULTZ CONTROL MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 19, 1950 g IN VEN TOR.

PAUL I. SCHULTZ B March 2, 1954 P. I. SCHULTZ 2,670,893

CONTROL MECHANISM Filed April 19, 1950 7 a Sheets-Sheet 2 11 .26 E- In.

44 53 /a 34 a5 2/ z; H 5

INVENTOR. PAUL SCHULTZ BY 1 7/ wma-f March 2, 1954 CONTROL MECHANISM Filed April 19, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 F /g. 7 F 6 I INVENTOR.

PAUL SGHUL 72 M ia P. SCHULTZ 2,670,893

Patented Mar. 2, 1954 liTE D STATES; PAT Q F'F'ICE'.

CONTROL, MECHANISM Paul-; I. Schultz, Cleveland, Ohio Application Aprit 19, 1950, Serial No. 156,803 zCla-imss (Cl.253;Q--29) Theinvention relates toa speed responsive deviceforactuating control mechanisms and particular to a fluid drive speed andpressureresponsive valve actuating mechanism.

An actuatingmechanism which is responsive to speed: for operating valves or controlling the operation or other similar devices, isvery much" in demand on man-y types of machines. One of these machines is an ordinary air compressorsuch as the one illustrated, described" and referred to as a specific example in this application. Although the description and specification' use an air compressor as a specific settingfor the present invention, it is understood that the scope of the invention is not limited thereby, but that an air compressor is used as a specificexample of how-theinvention operates.

It isgenerallyunderstoodthat an air compressor takes in air at'atmosphericpressure and pushes it into astorage tank at high, pressure.v The switching or valve mechanisms cause the air compressor tostart at a predetermined low. pressure of the tank; which" pressure is much higher than atmospheric pressure. If the air were pushed into the tankas soon as the; motor ot the air-compressor-started to turn over, there. would be-a heavydrag; and torque required? of the motor; which wouldhave a tendency to. overload or' burn out the motor. Ifo overcome'this and to relieve the startingload on the motor; various types of reliefvalvesor unloadingdevices', have been devised; one of which; will open" the pressureline between the tank andth'e. compressorto atmosphere, until the motor has. reached a predetermined speed: It is understood that there is a one-way valve in this line, between the compressor and the tank so that air from. the tank: will not bleedbackwards through. the linev to atmosphere while the motor is; comin up to speed; The present inventionrelatesto a device for actuating; the relief" valve to, bleed the com.- pressor feed line to atmosphere. until, the. compressor getsup to operating'speecli Qne of the objects of my invention is to pro.- vide a speed responsive valve. actuating, mocha;- msm.

Anotherobject of mydevice. is to provide, a, fluid drive coupling responsive to speed'for controllingrthe operatingof-"a valve.

Another object of my invention is to provide a; valve; actuating mechanism wherein" an im pellendrivesianimpelling member through a fluid coupling yfor" operating.- a. valve mechanism.

Another object; of; invention: is: to: provide ant compressonwitln arfiuid-idrine unitrespon 2 siveto speed tocontrol: the operation of a valve. on thecompressor.

Other objects and afuller understanding". of this invention may be: had byreferring to the: following description and claims, taken in. conjunction with the accompanying drawings; in which:

Figure 1 is an end View of an air compressor having av fluid-i drive speed responsive device mounted thereon;

Figure 2 is an elevational sidevievw of the air compressor with: the fluiddrive speed responsive device illustrated in: crossssection;

Figure. 3% isv a fragmentary enlargement alongthe line ii -3C otFigure 1 Figure 4 is: atragmentary enlargement along the line 4 4 of Figure 1;; s

Figure. 5. is. a: fragmentary enlargement similar to: Figure 4= but. showing the device controlling anelectricvalve:

Figure 6: is-va. fragmentary: enlargement show i-ng amod'ifiodtfluid drive-speed. responsive device i'ncross-section; and

Figure? T is afragmentary enlargement: showing: another modified fluid drive speed respon si-ve-deviceain-cross section.

In. the present description; as W611 as in the accompanying drawings, an air compressor E0} is. illustrated asv aspeci-fic location of the speed responsive actuatingdevi'ce disclosed and claimed' herein. This air compressor is equipped-with a crank shaft l l having a pulley I 2 on one end thereof. Since the crank shaft' and thepistonz' structure, as well as the other structure or the air compressor l3 is well known in theart; thedetails of this strucure have been omi-ttedi The air compressor t6 i's enclosedi-n a hollow housing in having. a-supporting wall or end plate 2! and ans-oil: reservoir th'ereinfor supplying oil to mowin'g: parts the compressor. The liquidshad linesas atl4 in- Figure 2- represent the oil" in the air compressor Hi 'Fhecrank shaft H extends throughopposite sides: oii the air: compressor it with: the pulley l2 fastened to-oneend thereofi The-fluiddrive speed; responsive device l5? foractuating a valve; is located at theother end of the: crank shaft; This speed-responsive device Wcomprises in gen eral a drivin or impel-ling member #6. and a. driven or impelled mernlier If'l coupled by the fluid or oil in-the housing re. The, oil indicated by the shading Ii -serves as the fluid coupling between the impell-ingmember H5 and the impolled-member I11 The impeljling member ['5' is. driven-by the crank shaft H for rotation therewith and moves the impelled member I! which is angularly movable relative to the housing 13. A connecting link [8 journalled or otherwise fastened to the impelled member I! at a distance from the center thereof transfers angular movement of the impelled member to a valve or other control device.

In this specific structure disclosed herein and best illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the housing i3 of the air compressor is provided with a large opening and a cap or end plate 2|. The cap or end plate 2i covers this opening 20 and is fastened to the wall of the housing [3 by bolts or other suitable fastening means which will provide an oil-tight seal between the cap and the wall of the housing. The cap or end plate 2! is further provided internally thereof with an internal hub 22 located in the center of the cap. When the air compressor is assembled, the crank shaft H is bearinged in this internal hub 22 as indicated in Figure 3. The impelled member H is angularly movable on and is carried by this internal hub 22. A snap ring 23 holds the impelled member I! on the internal hub 22 and permits angular movement of the impelled member I'I.

As has been previously described, the impelling member It is mounted on the crank shaft H. In this specific instance, the crank shaft is provided with a shoulder 24 extending thereabout and to which the impelling member It may be fastened by rivets 25 or any other suitable fastening means. The impelling member and the impelled member are each provided with a plurality of blades 26 and 21, respectively, which are aligned in close proximity and near the circumference of the respective members. These blades 26 and 21 may be a portion of the respective member or they may be separate pieces fastened to the members [6 or H. The blades extend at an angle to the surface of their supporting member to increase the driving coupling between the members. For example, rotation. of the crank shaft ll causes impelling member Hi to tend to angularly move the impelled member l1. When the coupling between these members becomes sufficient, the driving force from the impelling member IE will angularlymove the impelling member 11, thus actuating the connecting link l8 for op-- erating a valve or other mechanism. Since the oil or fluid [4 located in the bottom of the housing l3 of the air compressor to provides a better coupling between the impelling member 16 and the impelled member II, it has been found advisable to provide a way for this oil to enter the space between the members.

Although the lubricating oil I4 is used, it is understood that any suitable fluid may be used for increasing this couplingeifect and that gases, air or other mediums which will transfer the force of rotation from the impelling member to the impelled member may be used.

Since the crank shaft is located above the level of the oil reservoir in the housingof the air compressor, it has been found advisable to insert a flat ring 28 between the cap or end plate 2| and the housing [3. This flat ring 28 extends into the opening 20 and cooperates with the cap 21 to provide an internal annular track or groove in which the impelling member 16 and the impelled member II are positioned. The oil or fluid level in the housing is of sufficient height so that the fluid will flow over this flat ring 28 and enter the groove or track on the bottom as indicated in Figure 3 by the fluid shadin lines. When the air compressor is starting and the crank shaft rotates, the blades 26 on the impelling member l6 carry the fluid completely around in this track so that fluid or oil is disposed between all of the blades of the impelling member [6 and all of the blades 21 of the impelled member l1. At first, the fluid will only couple a few of the blades of the two members. However, if the impelling member l6 gains speed, more fluid will be drawn into the track or annular groove, thus providing a greater coupling between the members. When the coupling between the members has reached a predetermined point, the impelled member I! will be angularly moved to move the connecting link 18.

In Figure 4 of my drawing, the connecting link l8 is illustrated-as being used to control the operation of an air relief valve 30. This valve is an ordinary ball type valve with an actuating pin, which in this instance is the connecting link l8, movable to push the ball 3| against the valve seat. The valve has an inlet represented by thetube 32 which is connected directly to the outlet of the air compressor and thus between the air compressor and the storage tank. The valve 30 also has an outlet 33* extending to atmosphere whereby when the ball 31 is unseated, air from the compressor is bled through this valve 30 to atmosphere. In this particular instance, the connecting link l8 has been slidably mounted in a drilled opening 34 in the cap 2 l. The connecting link 18, as well as this drilled opening 34 extends generally in a line perpendicular to a line drawn through the point of connection of the link to the impelled member I! and the center of the impelled member IT. The connecting link it may be fastened to the impelled member I! by any suitable means; such for example, as a stud 35 which extends outwardly from the side surface of the impelled member H and engages the connecting link l8.

As the ball 3| is seated against the valve seat in the valve 30, air pressure will be built up in the lines between the compressor and the storage tank which pressure is higher than atmospheric pressure. This air pressure will tend to unseat the ball 3|, thus tending to angularly move the impelled member H against the angular movement established by the impelling member t6. It. therefore, may be reasoned that the actuating device is responsive to pressure in many instances since the coupling between the impelling member and the impelled member must be suficient to overcome the forces exerted on the impelled member by the connecting link to cause an angular movement of the impelled member. 7

In Figure 6, there is illustrated in cross-section a modified device. In this modified device; oil-is pumped to the bearings of the crank shaft even though there is not enough oil in the reservoir as indicated by the oil lines It in Figure 6 to op-- erate the fluid drive speed responsive devicelii. In this particular instance, when there is not sufficient supply of oil in the housing l3 of the machine to form an adequate reservoir, the actuating device IE will not close the valve 88. Thus the compressor will continue to pump air to atmosphere until it is turned off. 'Although'the machine may come up to speed, there is the safety factor of the bearings being lubricated even though the machine will not pump air. The fact that the compressor does not'pump air'or 'a ny other gas or fluid which it is supposed to'pu'mp. is an indication to any person that'theoil supply in the reservoir 14 is getting low. This specific aemaes ec stmc ien. else nrqvides a. 11 w. ei-zeilvtn the bearings and under pressure;;;; messaging the;

drawing; it is noted that the impelling member It has a larger diameter than the impelling member t't. The: end'capllrof the machine'istherefore provided, with i step or shoulder 36 aligned with the ring I! to provide a peripheral space, in which the impellin member IE rotates, 'I;'his peripherat space which extends around the ripheryof the impelling member H3 is designated by the reference character 31. A suitable conduit 38 extending from this peripheral space 3''! to the end of the crank shaft carries oil or other lubricant to the bearings on the crank shaft The lubricant is forced through the conduit 38 by the centrifugal action of the impelling member Hi. It is noted that the flat ring 28 is provided with an opening 3'9 illustrated in Figure 6 as being below the top surface of the fluid in the reservoir 4. The opening 39 permits oil to flow into the peripheral space 31 even though the top surface level of the oil in the reservoir I4 is below the inside edge 40 of the flat ring 28.

In Figure 7 of the drawings, an oil carrying ring 4| which is looped over the crank shaft II is used to carry oil from the oil reservoir M to the crank shaft A rod 42 extending across the bottom of the housing |3 and through the lubricant reservoir I4 is positioned inside this oil carrying ring 4| to insure revolving of the ring 4|. When the crank shaft is rotating, oil carried thereto by the ring 4| will be centrifugally driven outwardly along the surface of the crank shaft and outwardly of the impelling member Hi, to fill the space around the blades 26 and 21 of the impelling member and the impelled members It and I1. After sufficient oil has been worked into this space between the blades of the members It and H, the blades will operate to close the valve 30 in the same manner as described in connection with the structure illustrated in Figure 3.

In each of the devices illustrated and described herein, it is noted that a valve is operated by an impelled member driven through a fluid by an impelling member driven by the crank shaft of the air compressor. Although the description and drawings illustrate a ball valve for opening an air line, it is understood that any type of control device may be operated in place of this ball valve, such, for example, as an electric switch or any type fluid or gaseous valve. As an example of using my control device for other purposes, I have inserted Figure 5. The Figure is very similar to the Figure 4 in that it has the rod |8 operative the same as in Figure 4. However, in Figure 5, this rod |8 bucks a spring 44, which spring 44 normally urges the rod 8 to the right in Figure 5. In this installation, the rod It; operates a valve, such, for example, as the electric valve or electric switch 45. The spring 44 prevents operation of the valve 45 until the fluid connection between the impelling member I6 and the impelled member H has reached a force sufficient to overcom the resilient force of the spring 44.

It is also noted that the device may be used in connection with fluid, as well as gaseous machines, and especially in any operation wherein it is desired to bring the machine up to a certain rotating speed before th valve 30 or other device is operated. The device may very readily be applied to electric motors and similar machines wherein it is desired to operate an electric valve when the rotating part of the electrical machine &. hasrsaehed:atp edeterminedsneedi. astrueture es & hasthe. spr n 44. tegesern the speed air-which the. rod til: wen-1d be moved; to operate. the; electric: valve 45;- when the device is; en nzelectfical; I V 1 a Althou h this. invention. hasbeen described its preferred form a; de ree of nanieularitn t; understood that the; pr sentmeclosure-o1? the preferred. fermhasibeenmadeonir be may ofexa irle andthat; numereuschanees in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the inventionas hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In an air compressor having a reservoir for containing a fluid at the bottom thereof, a crank shaft, an impelling member mounted on said crank shaft and rotatable therewith, an impelled member adjacent to the impelling member and supported for movement by said impelling member, wall means forming an annular space about the impelled member and the impelling member, conveying means extending into said reservoir and carrying fluid to said annular space, and an air valve operably connected to said impelled member.

2. In an air compressor having a reservoir for containing a fluid at the bottom thereof, a crank shaft, an impelling member mounted on said crank shaft and rotatable therewith, an impelled member adjacent to th impelling member and supported for movement by said impelling member, first and second wall means forming an annular space about the impelled member and the impelling member, conveying means extending into said reservoir and carrying fluid to said annular space, and an air valve operably connected to said impelled member, one of said wall means constituting a partition between said annular space and said reservoir, said one of said wall means having an opening communicating with said reservoir to drain fluid from said annular space and into said reservoir.

3. In an air compressor having a reservoir of a fluid in the bottom thereof, a crank shaft, an impelling member mounted on said crank shaft and rotatable therewith, an impelled member adjacent the impelling member and supported for movement by said impelling member, means forming a space about the impelled member and the impelling member, an oil ring looped over said crank shaft and extending into said fluid reservoir to carry fluid to said crank shaft, means conveying said fluid to said space, and an air valve operably connected to said impelled memher.

4. In an air compressor having a housing, an

end plate having an internal hub, a flat ring bea tween said end plate and said housing and cooperating with said end plate to form an internally opening annular groove thereabouts, a crank shaft bearinged in said hub, an impelling member mounted on said crank shaft and rotatable therewith, an impelled member adjacent th impelling member and supported by said internal hub" for angular movement by said impelling member, said members extending in close proximity with each other in said internally opening annular groove, and an air valve operably connected to said impelled member.

5. In an air compressor having a housing, an end plate having an internal hub, a flat ring between said end plate and said housing and cooperating with said end plate to form an internally opening annular groor thereabouts," a crank shaft bearinged in said 'hub, an impelling member mounted on saidcrank'shatt and r0- tatable therewith, an impelledmember adjacent the impeiling member andsupportedby said internal hub for angular movement by saidimpelling member, said members extending in close proximity with each other in said internally opening annular groove, 9, hole in said annular ring extending from said groove to the hollow 10 housing and an air valve operabb conneiited to said impelled member. 7

' V PAUL I. SCHULTZ 5 References (menu the file of this patent.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,265,675 Stewart Dec. 9, 1941 m is 

